Springfield daily republic. [volume] (Springfield, O. [Ohio]) 1887-1888, 1887-01-29
WHAT CAME OF IT.

seeing him amount to anything. She was
a widow, with no one To help her train her
son, and neither advice, eXpostulation
nor argument had any effect upon him.
He studied no more than was absolutely
necessary to enable him to keep up with
his classes had no ambition to be at the
head of any Of them, and worked as little
rs possible about the house though love
and consideration for his mother pre-
vented him from ever Shirking his regular
duties, such rs milking the COW, cutting
wood and bringing water. But he stared
at her aghast when she proposed that he
should take entire charge Of the garden,
devoting to it his time before and after
school hours, thus saving the expense Of
hiring help.
'Oh. mother. | never could, he said;
1.-THE weeds would be higher than my head
in a months time. I'm no hand at rake
or a hoe
"You're no hand at anything rs far as
| can see" said his mother There will
have to he radical change in you,
Stuart, if you expect Ger TO win money or
position
Il don't know that care for either,
answered Stuart '' m not one Of the
pushing kind. \ quit life suits me best y
And you'll be content to see all your
friends get ahead of you, | suppose.
Now, mother, don't worry Stu
art looked really distressed. IN come
out all right, never fear.
''There'll have to be miracle worked,
then" said Mrs. Willard, signing. "Lazi-
ness is the one fault of your character
/ Stuart, and it will keep you down all your
/ life"
| Though averse 10 eXertiou of any kind
Stuart was n fUu-lpving boy, always ready
/ for n frIliI, and MT apt to think, until re-
pentance was too late to be Of any avail,
of the right or wrong of the good time.
| And he had three particular friends who,
in boy parlance, never stuck at any
thing when there was fun ahead.
They all considered old Simon Pfeffer,
I the richest man in Westville, fair
game, for it was well known that he
hated anything in the shape of boy, and
never spoke to or looked at one, little or
big. without growing like the rough old
bear he was believed to be.
He was an old bachelor, and lived with
a hOusekeeper and half a dozen servants
in a handsome house in the suburbs OF
the town. and he might have thoroughly
enjoyed his large grounds, fine orchards,
and well bred live stock but for the boys
of the town, who mischievously MIXED
his cows, stole his fruit. tished in his trout
pond. broke down his fences, left his gates
OPEN and made themselves generally OBJ
nONiOus.
The Culprits always managed in some
way to escape detection. Well did they
know the terrible example that would bt
made of the first boy old Simon caught
He openly declared that he would show nj
mercy. and would know how TO deal with
the offender.
We never know how our most trifiinG
impulses, if acted upon, may affect thu
lives of others. When Ben Hopper stopped
one May evening at the gate of the LITTLE
cottage in which Stuart lived and asked i
he didn't want to 20 out to the old mill OF
the Creek road to hunt squirrels, no intui
ton told him that he was doing something
which was TO lead to an event that woul(
influence all the rest of stuart 5 life.
Stuart accepted the invitation, of course
and on their way out Of town the boy
were Joined by Tom Halpine and Lux
Wright, who were quite rs fond of squire
hunting as were Stuart and Ben.
For at least half u mile after leaving tn
town the Creek road was bounded on on
side by n pasture belonging to Mr. Pfetfer
and SO generously did it abound will
chestnut, persimmon and crab apple tree
that the boys Of the town were tamllla
with every rod of it.
But il was not the season now for chest
nuts, persimmons or crab apples, and tn
squirrel hunting party would have gon
whistling and shouting by had not hand
some brown horse, quietly grazing tn
short grass, raised his head ut sight q
them and whinnied softly.
Il know something we can do Il sigh
better'n squirrel hunting" said LUX
Wright, stopping short What do yo'
say to ride
I'm in for it." answered Tom Halpine
81 don't believe we'd find any squirrels
anyhow. They're getting so shy the
don't come round the mill like the
used to-"
The brown horse had probably bee
feeling lonely and was glad Of company
for he made no objection whatever whe
Stuart let down pair of bars, and, goin
up to him, took hold of his forelock and le'
him into the road.
But he objected very vigorously t
having four boys on his back at one time
and kicked and careened around until h
succeeded i'll Kidding himself of all four q
them.
Wen have to take turns riding sal
Ben Hopper. Each fellow can go as IA
! rs the bridge and then turn back"
They had made bride out of rOp
Stuart had in his pocket and a piece G
wood they picked up ON the road, and tn
horse allowed himself to DE guided yer
easily. He seemed spirited but yer
gentle and had evidently been trained t
} trot.
The boys acted on Ben's suggestion an
} took turns at trying the animals PAGES
, enjoying themselves SO much that the
were lOath TO end the sport when it bega
to grow dark.
Il must have one more ride, and then
will be even with the rest of you and W
: can go home" said Stuart, as Luke cam
trotting up and swung himself from tn
horses back.
Wouldn't old Simon be in rage if h
should happen along now, - said Tom, a
he helped Stuart TO mount
This is about the best fun he ever ful
nished u.s." laughed Stuart, rs he rod
away ''and he'll never be any the wise
either"
He went Gathering up the road at
good pace and the bridge-a rough 10
: structure-was reached all too soon.
! Il guess I'll go little further" h
thought. There's no telling when II
get another ride and I'd better make tn
most of this
But he went even a shorter distanc
!, further than he intended, for half wa
across the bridge the horse suddenl
> stopped. gave wild snort of terror an
> began to hack. Stuart saw that the AM
: nal was frightened by an old tree which
blasted by lightning and deprived Of it
bark. stood at the other end of the bridg
like ghostly sentinel, looking almos
; snow white in the uncertain light; but
unaccustomed TO horses, he did not know
what to do, and in his alarm and excite
ment pulled too hard on one rein. TIL
, horse reared, gave wild whirl and tn
Dnyt instant went DluD inc over the sid